My life

"My life is in the hand of HIM whose glory I seek." 

(John Knox) 

Where is my life resting? 

Whose glory do I seek? 
What do my actions, thoughts, pursuits, internet time, conversations, and plans say about it? 
Can it all fall at His feet and declare "I seek the King's glory?!"

What is your life?

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. 

For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

{James 4:14}

Length: Your life is but a vapour. [James 4:14]
Investment: What am I investing my life in? What am I going to do for God- now?
Faithfulness and Fruitful: Am I faithful to God? Am I being fruitful for Him? [Heb. 11, John 15]
Eternity

What am I doing with my life for God? What are you doing for Him?

in the Lord

Cheerfulness is the support of our strength;

in the joy of the Lord we are strong. 

{Spurgeon}

God will lead you through

It is a sharp fight which you are waging, but Jesus has stood foot to foot with the same enemy. 

Let us be of good cheer Christ has borne the load before us, and the blood-stained footsteps of the King of glory may be seen along the road which we traverse at this hour!

{Spurgeon} 

In His Presence

This song has been brought to my attention of late, and the truth of it started to make light. 

How many times have I stood amazed in His presence for what He has done for me?

Do I meditate on the work of Calvary and just how marvelous and wonderful it is that He could love me?

What a glorious day it will be to stand in His presence and sing praises!

I stand amazed in the presence

Of Jesus the Nazarene,
And wonder how He could love me,
A sinner, condemned, unclean.

Refrain

O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
Is my Savior’s love for me!

For me it was in the garden
He prayed: “Not My will, but Thine.”
He had no tears for His own griefs,
But sweat drops of blood for mine.

Refrain

In pity angels beheld Him,
And came from the world of light
To comfort Him in the sorrows
He bore for my soul that night.

Refrain

He took my sins and my sorrows,
He made them His very own;
He bore the burden to Calvary,
And suffered and died alone.

Refrain

When with the ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see,
’Twill be my joy through the ages
To sing of His love for me.

Refrain

Immeasurably More

Teacher Tuesday

To wrap up the last semester. I can't believe how quickly the time flew. I could not have asked for a better cooperating teacher, para, and class. I am so thankful- my heart is overflowing.

Now, here I am in my student teaching semester #2! Here I find myself as a Spanish teacher to 745 students from kindergarten to 6th grade at 3 schools! What a change- new students, new cooperating teacher, new supervisor, new district, new subject to teacher! New and change seem to be the summary words! However, it is sweet to hear especially the little ones trying to express themselves in the Spanish they have learned :)

Right now we are teaching:
6th grade: place settings, foods
5th grade: telling time, pen pals in Spain
4th grade: animals, adjectives
3rd grade: traffic safety
2nd grade: body parts
1st grade: clothing

I'm excited to see how the students improve and learn over the semester and progress!
And before I know it, it will be over!

God's love

The more I am in the classroom, the more I work with children from all walks of life, the more my heart is impacted. Each heart in need of God's love, each life in need of a good testimony, each mind ready to be molded, each child a soul in need of God's salvation. 

But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. 

{Matthew 19:14}

I will not leave you as [orphans]; I will come to you. 

{John 14:18}

Will you love the least of these... just as God loves you?

Little hands, shoeless feet, lonely eyes looking back at me
Will we leave behind the innocent too brief
On their own, on the run when their lives have only begun
These could be our daughters and our sons
And just like a drum I can hear their hearts beating
I know my God won’t let them be defeated
Every child has a dream to belong and be loved

Chorus:
Boys become kings, girls will be queens
Wrapped in Your majesty 
When we love, when we love the least of these
Then they will be brave and free
Shout your name in victory
When we love when we love the least of these
When we love the least of these

Break our hearts once again
Help us to remember when
We were only children hoping for a friend
Won’t you look around these are the lives that the world has forgotten
Waiting for doors of our hearts and our homes to open

CHORUS

If not us who will be like Jesus
To the least of these
If not us tell me who will be like Jesus
Like Jesus to the least of these


Boys become kings, girls will be queens
Wrapped in your majesty
When we love, when we love the least of these
Then they will be brave and free shout your name in victory
We will love we will love the least of these
We will love the least of these
We will love the least of these
We will love the least of these
We will love the least of these 
We will love the least of these

Soon

Dearest followers, 

The last month has passed in a blink. 

I'll be back this coming Monday... promise :)

Monday Meditation: Before the throne of God

Due to a very busy end-of-semester schedule, I have not posted... I'll try & get back on it :)

This song has come to mind and attention several times of late, and I want to share it. 

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea.
A great high Priest whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands, 
My name is written on His heart. 
I know that while in heaven He stands 
No tongue can bid me thence depart. 

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
King of glory and of grace,
One in Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God!


There are a few tunes, but I think this one (in the video) is my favorite.

What a wonderful thing it is to sing of His praises and worship the one it is who came to this earth to save each one who puts their trust in Him.

Thankful

and here are the rest for the month.

I am THANKFUL for...

                                          

day 26- forgiveness. It is a powerful thing.

day 27-good days

day 28- my second family abroad. The T family has allowed me to live with them the last 3 summers. I cannot fully show my appreciation for everything they have done for me! :)

day 29- the opportunities I have had to travel. From within the United States to places where I need a passport- I have been blessed with wonderful opportunities to learn, meet new people, and reconnect with others.

day 30- the opportunity I have had to teach at the school I have been placed this semester- Friday will be my last day teaching anything, but it has been a great learning experience- one I wouldn't trade! :)

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. 

{Psalm 136:1}

Thanks

I am thankful for

day 25- coffee. A dash of sugar. A splash of cream. Or even just black. Coffee :)

                                             

Thanksgiving

I am THANKFUL for

day 21- chocolate. Sometimes the taste of a bit of chocolate can turn the hour upside down :)

day 22- Thanksgiving day. I got to spend the whole day (since it was the 1st Thanksgiving in several years that I didn't have to work) with my dad's family. It was a bit crazy with the huge family, but entertaining and the weather was beautiful!

day 23- safety and the power of prayer. After an interesting, eventful Black Friday adventure I am thankful that God is a protector and had given me safety thus far in such a restless world.

day 24- time with family. Spending today with my mom's family sitting around, drinking coffee, reading a book, and catching up on this topped with a few gifts, a game, and more family in a bit :)

                                               

                                           

So thankful

I'm a little behind... here is the catch-up!

I am THANKFUL for:

(Day 15) international friends. What a delight and joy it  is to receive surprise phone calls (and videos) and have contact with those a far! Thank you for calling! :)

(Day 16) the assembly here. The is no perfect place, but the assembly, the fellowship, is well worth it!

(Day 17) for the power of adoption. To give a forever family to a child without- what a true joy! :)

(Day 18) naps. It is amazing what a few minutes of a nap can do! :)

(Day 19) my grandparents. Both of my sets of grandparents have set a high standard for following after the things of God, for raising a family, and for giving of their hearts for His service.

(Day 20) a 2-day student week! While I love the students, I am thankful for a work day tomorrow and the Thanksgiving holiday weekend! :) (I am even taking the kids turkey cookies to celebrate!)

Thankful for today

I am THANKFUL for

another year that God has given me to learn and grow. I am excited to see where God will lead me according to His will this next year, as many days as He spares me. While I want to get anxious and impatient, He reminds me to be thankful for each day and trust in Him! :)

Thank you for the many birthday wishes as well! :)

Teacher Tuesday: catch up

A list of things that have been happening in the classroom:

-Halloween activities: talk about a crazy day!
-Veteran's Day thank yous! :)
-Mock election
-Goal celebration
-Field trip to the Rose Theater
-Observations from my university supervisor & the dual language district supervisor

It's been busy busy busy!

I am sadly, slowly starting to release the subjects back to my cooperating teacher as I turn the class back over to her as the semester draws to a close.

In the meantime, I am highly anticipating my placement information for my second semester of student teaching! I would REALLY like to know :)

...now to have my assessment presentation over with on Friday... what a relief that will be to be done!

A few thankfuls

I guess you would say I've missed a few days in sharing my thankfuls... so here are my catch-ups!

I am THANKFUL for...

-good morning messages. When they come with a verse, it makes it even better :)

-food on the table. I can be thankful that I have never had to go without a meal because there simply wasn't a crumb to be found or a penny to be spared, when for many to go without is sadly the normal.

-scarves. I have broken out all of my fall and winter scarves and they have already gotten plenty of use as the weather turns brisk and cold! The more colorful or unique- the better :)

Monday Meditation: one thing

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 

{Galations 6:14}

One thing stand between the world and heaven... the cross. Make Christ all in your joy.

As I think upon this verse, my mind is directed at the hymn:

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My riches gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorry and love flow mingled down!
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, me all.

Thanks

I am THANKFUL for

Ibprophen when the headaches become to much to handle.
                                     

Giving thanks

I am THANKFUL for

A roof over my head and a warm bed! There are so many people here in the city (and across the globe) that aren't fortunate to have a roof over their heads or even their own bed to sleep in, I am SO thankful for this blessing and privilege! :)